Hydraulic door operating system for autoclaves and sterilizers

Apparatus for opening, closing, and sealing a door over an opening of a chamber, said apparatus comprising:

• a) means for moving said door between an open and a closed position;
• b) means for clamping said door to said chamber in a sealed relationship;
• and
• c) means for applying an adjustable force to move said door when said door is in a generally confronting relationship relative to the opening of said chamber between a first position out of engagement with said clamping means and a second position for engaging said clamping means.

Apparatus for opening, closing, and sealing a door of a chamber, said apparatus comprising:

• a) means for opening and closing said door, said means providing adjustable force for opening and closing said door;
• b) means for clamping said door to said chamber, said clamping means providing adjustable clamping force such that an effective seal is formed between said door and said chamber;
• and
• c) means for raising and lowering said door such that said door engages said clamping means in the lowered position, said means providing adjustable force for raising and lowering said door.

Apparatus for opening, closing, and sealing a door to a chamber, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a first hydraulic cylinder operatively interconnected to said chamber and said door for opening and closing said door, said first hydraulic cylinder having an extendable rod operative for exerting a force against said door proportional to hydraulic pressure supplied to said first hydraulic cylinder;
• b) a plurality of hydraulically activated clamps attached to said chamber, each of said clamps having an extendable pin, said pins exerting variable clamping force when extended by the application of hydraulic pressure to said clamps such that an effective seal is formed between said door and said chamber, said clamping force being proportional to hydraulic pressure supplied to said clamps;
• and
• c) a second hydraulic cylinder operatively interconnected to said chamber and said door for moving said door between a first and a second position, said second hydraulic cylinder having an extendable rod operative for exerting a force against said door proportional to hydraulic pressure applied to said second hydraulic cylinder.

A method for opening, closing, and sealing a door to a chamber, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) supplying hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting said door and said chamber in an adjustable amount effective for closing said door with a force proportional to the amount of hydraulic pressure supplied to said hydraulic cylinder;
• b) supplying hydraulic pressure to a plurality of clamps fastened to said door in an adjustable amount effective for permitting said clamps to seal said door and said chamber, said clamping force being proportional to the amount of hydraulic pressure supplied to said clamps;
• and
• c) supplying hydraulic pressure to said hydraulic cylinder in an adjustable amount effective for opening said door with a force proportional to the amount of hydraulic pressure supplied to said hydraulic cylinder.